Lighted glasses case

Abstract

A case for lighted glasses is provided having one or more battery holders therein for receiving and retaining standard sized batteries for the lighted glasses. The battery holders can include a retaining surface that is sized and configured to engage and frictionally retain the standard size battery in the battery holder. This provides the battery holder with a friction fit with the standard sized battery. The battery holder may also be provided in a liner for the lighted glasses case. Upper and lower housing portions of the case are pivotably connected together to be pivotable with respect to each other between a closed configuration to form a housing interior space sized to receive the lighted glasses therein and an open configuration to provide access to the interior space to remove or replace the lighted glasses therein.

1 . A case for lighted glasses, the case comprising:
 upper and lower housing portions that are pivotably connected together for pivoting between a closed position where the closed housing portions cooperate to form an interior space sized for receiving the lighted glasses therein, and an open position for removing the lighted glasses from the interior space or fitting the lighted glasses in the interior space;   a battery holder in the housing interior for receiving a standard sized battery for the lighted glasses; and   a retaining surface of the battery holder sized and configured to engage and frictionally retain the standard sized battery for the lighted glasses in the holder to provide the battery holder with a friction fit with the standard size battery for the lighted glasses.   
     
     
         2 . The case of  claim 1  wherein one of the housing portions includes an interior liner, and the battery holder, including the retaining surface thereof, comprises a predetermined portion of the liner. 
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the housing portions each have an elongate configuration with opposite ends thereof, and the battery holder is disposed intermediate the opposite ends of one of the housing portions. 
     
     
         4 . The case of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the housing portions has a hard outer surface and a softer inner surface with the battery holder retaining surface comprising a surface portion of the softer inner surface. 
     
     
         5 . The case of  claim 1  wherein one of the housing portions includes a raised interior shelf portion, and the battery holder is a recess in the raised interior shelf portion. 
     
     
         6 . The case of  claim 5  wherein the standard size battery is a coin cell battery, and the battery holder retaining surface is an annular surface extending about the recess having a diameter thereacross sized to receive the coin cell battery in a press fit therein. 
     
     
         7 . The case of  claim 5  wherein the battery holder comprises:
 a pair of recesses each sized for receiving the standard sized battery for the lighted glasses therein; and 
 a narrow channel extending between and interconnecting the pair of recesses to allow the standard sized batteries to be removed from the pair of recesses in which the standard sized batteries are press fit. 
 
     
     
         8 . The case of  claim 1  wherein the housing portions each include a hard outer shell. 
     
     
         9 . The case of  claim 1  in combination with lighted glasses received within the interior space of the housing portions, wherein the lighted glasses include a battery compartment sized to receive at least one standard sized battery to power light sources mounted thereto. 
     
     
         10 . A case for lighted glasses, the case comprising:
 an elongate housing having a hard outer shell and an interior having a length sized for receiving the lighted glasses therein;   a liner of generally rigid material sized to fit within the interior of the housing; and   a battery receptacle of the liner having a wall extending transverse to the length of the housing interior and extending about the battery receptacle, with the battery receptacle sized so that the wall frictionally engages a standard sized battery for the lighted glasses to retain the standard sized battery in the battery receptacle.   
     
     
         11 . The case of  claim 10  wherein the liner has a soft inner surface. 
     
     
         12 . The case of  claim 10  wherein the wall defines a generally annular receptacle sized to receive the standard sized battery therein in a friction fit engagement. 
     
     
         13 . The case of  claim 12  wherein the battery receptacle is a first battery receptacle, and further comprising a second battery receptacle of the liner in a side-by-side relation with the first battery receptacle, where the second battery receptacle defines a second generally annular receptacle sized to receive the standard sized battery therein in a friction fit engagement. 
     
     
         14 . The case of  claim 13  further comprising a narrow channel extending between and connecting the pair of generally annular receptacles, the channel forming openings in the walls of the pair of generally annular receptacles to provide finger access to sidewalls of the standard sized batteries for removal thereof from the receptacles in which the standard sized batteries are press fit. 
     
     
         15 . The case of  claim 10  further comprising a hinge pivotably connecting the top and bottom portions of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The case of  claim 15  wherein the hinge is configured for holding the top and bottom portions of the housing in an open configuration and for providing snap closure of the top and bottom portions upon pivoting of the top and bottom portions toward a closed configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The case of  claim 10  wherein the liner includes a raised portion spaced from the hard outer shell, and the battery receptacle is a recess in the raised portion. 
     
     
         18 . The case of  claim 10  in combination with a disc-shaped battery, the disc-shaped battery and the battery receptacle configured and sized to have a friction fit therebetween so that the disc-shaped battery is removably retained in the battery receptacle.